04/05/2010

From March to April, Anemonefish in Okinawa start laying eggs.
The above picture is a Panda Anemonefish with its red eggs on the left hand side.

Many anemonefish become more protective, territorial, and aggressive during this season. It is interesting to watch them sending fresh water by waving their fins around the eggs. Their eggs are usually red, and as the hatching out approaches you may be able to see their eyes.

Okinawa in April
Wind: North or South
Air Temperature: between 22-26C (72-79F)
Water Temperature: 23C (73.4 F)
Cloth: T-shirts + Jacket
Wetsuits: 5mm full suits + Hood Vest

When we have wind from south, it’s very very hot like summer! However, when it’s north wind, it’s a bit chilly still.
Make sure to bring a jacket with you!

We took Dawn and Bobby out diving at the Kerama Islands today.
We saw some very interesting stuff in the sea, as below…

The first one on the left is a picture of nudibranch eggs. It’s a season now when nudibranchs mate and lay eggs in Okinawa.
The picture on the right is a scene where one nudibranch is eating the other one.
The one on the front with blue and green color is called “Tambja morosa – Midori Ryugu Umiushi”, which is being eaten by “Roboastra luteolineolata” – Ishigaki Ryugu Umiushi.
Isn’t this cool?

03/27/2010

In Winter here, you often see big cuttle fish in Okinawa.
They are here to mate and lay eggs!
If you see them doing it, don’t bother, just take pictures!??

Even when they are hanging out by themselves, they change their body color according to their mood – interesting to watch it!

They lay eggs in between staghorn coral.

You can see their round white eggs in the picture above.
When we go diving, we make sure to tell you if it’s a dive site to watch cuttlefish, then be sure to peek into the coral reef. You will find their eggs.

03/12/2010

March is the end of Humback Whales Season in Okinawa, when we can see many of them in between Okinawa Main Island and the Kerama Islands.

The other day, Noboru save a whale in trouble.
This whale was tangled up by some net, having a problem moving and breathing. Noboru jumped in the water quickly with a huge knife, and cut the net for the whale.

Look at him and the whale! The whale is huge!
Noboru said that he was a bit scared when the whale was moving a lot trying to get rid of the net and his fin smashed Noboru’s mask almost off. As he approached the whale, there was a strong water current, because of the whale’s moves.

After being hit many times by the whale’s fins, Noboru managed to cut the net – the whale went away in the deep sea…

Okinawa in March
Wind: North or South
Air Temperature: between 15-25 C (59-77F)
Water Temperature: 21-22C (70-72 F)
Cloth: T-shirts + Jacket
Wetsuits: 5mm full suits + Hood Vest

This is a season when the wind direction changes a lot.
When having a North Wind, we have big ocean and very cold air temperature.
When it changes to South Wind, we totally have a hot summer.
Since it’s hard to predict the weather in Okinawa in March, we would recommend bringing T-shirts and jackets to wear in case it’s cold.

02/10/2010

The cherry blossoms are in full bloom now in Okinawa!
Unlike the cherry blossoms in mainland Japan, the ones in Okinawa starts blooming in the end of January and continues until the middle of February.

The kinds of cherry blossoms we can commonly see in mainland Japan in March and April are called Someiyoshino and the flowers have a little more pale color.
The ones we see in Okinawa is called Hikanzakura – which has more deep red pink color on it.

01/31/2010

January is the time when Humpback Whales start coming in Okinawa ocean.
The Kerama Islands and Okinawa Main Island are mecca for whale watching in Japan.

Now, we can hear whales’ songs while we are diving!
Sometimes, it continues for a whole dive while we are having 40-50 min. dives…
The Humpback Whales live in Siberia in Summer, and come to Okinawa in Winter for mating, having a baby, and raising a baby.
The calm and warm water in Okinawa seem to be suitable for their raising babies.

In the beginning of the season, the whales are relatively shy, but once you start seeing them in a pair, you maybe able to see them jumping, blowing a lot!
Or, sometimes you can see a mother with a baby, teaching how to jump. Some mother and baby are guarded by a male whale too.

On the way to the Kerama Islands or on the way coming back, this is the season when you can get extra other than just diving!
It’s the time to watch whales!